Latch assembly with retainer for locking member

ABSTRACT

A latch of the type used for releasably holding windows in a closed position. The latch has an elongated locking member capable of being displaced between locking and unlocking positions, and the structure which mounts the locking member carries a limiting pin which extends into a cutout which is formed in the locking member to limit the latter to movement only between its locking and unlocking positions, so that in this way the locking member cannot be removed from the assembly.

United States Patent [1 1 Rifkin Sept. 9, 1975 LATCH ASSEMBLY W'ITH RETAINER FOR LOCKING MEMBER [76] Inventor: Michael Rifkin, 458 Lake Ave,

Lyndhurst, NJ. 0707] [22] Filed: Aug. 6, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 386,235

[52] [1.8. CI. 70/89; 70/287; 70/307 [51] Int. Cl. E05!) 37/02 [58] Field of Search 70/25, 89,90, 133, 185,

70/186, 211, 213, 287, 288, 307, 312, DIG. 57; 292/106, 207, 359

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,499,554 7/1924 Rule 70/25 3,413,830 12/1968 Rifkin 70/312 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,093,599 11/1954 France 70/287 Primary ExaminerAlbert G. Craig, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Blum, Moscovitz, Friedman & Kaplan 5 7 ABSTRACT 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures i r A LATCH ASSEMBLY WITH RETAINER FOR LOCKING MEMBER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to latches.

In particular, the present invention relates to that type of latch which is used for holding a window locked. Thus, the latch assembly of the invention is of the type which can be used with window sashes which are moved up and down or with any types of windows where one element is swung with respect to another, for example, in order to open and close the window.

As is well known, with latches of the above type it is essential to provide an exceedingly secure locking of the window so as to avoid entry by burglars, for example, to the greatest possible extent.

Thus, it has already been proposed, as shown in US. Pat. No. 3,413,830, to provide a latch assembly of the above general type. This particular latch assembly is highly effective in accomplishing its intended purpose not only because of its rugged construction and the secure closure provided thereby but also because it can only be operated from the front of the latch assembly so that for operation of the latch assembly it is essential that the operator be situated in the room facing the latch assembly. In this way it is not possible for an unauthorized individual at the outside of a room, looking in through the window, for example, to manipulate the latch assembly.

However, this particular type of latch assembly has a locking member which is introduced into the latch assembly in order to enter into an opening of a rotary lock element to maintain the latter in its locking position. This locking member can only be removed when certain rings are turned to predetermined angular positions. However, once the locking member is removed, it is easily lost, or if it is not lost, then there is a considerable inconvenience involved by the requirement that the operator remember where the locking member has been placed. Thus the locking member either is placed adjacent the latch assembly where it can easily become displaced so as to fall on the floor, or in any event creates an undesirable appearance, or if it is carefully put away in a drawer, for example, or the like, then the operator can easily forget where it has been placed.

Thus, in spite of the great effectiveness of the above construction, nevertheless the fact that the locking member can be completely removed represents a drawback.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly a primary object of the present invcntion to avoid the above drawbacks.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a latch assembly of the above general type having a locking member which cannot be removed from the latch assembly.

At the same time, it is an object of the present invention to solve the above problem without detracting in any way from all of the advantages which are inherent in a latch assembly of the above type.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a construction of the above general type which will still retain all of the robustness and safety of the original type of latch assembly as referred to above.

According to the present invention the latch assembly includes an elongated locking member longitudinally movable between locking and unlocking positions as well as a pair of rotary means which surround the locking member and which must have a predetermined angular position with respect thereto and with respect to each other before the locking member can be displaced from its locking to its unlocking position. A mounting means mounts the locking member as well as the pair of rotary means for movement, and this mount ing means as well as the pair of rotary means all have marks which must be aligned in order to place the pair of rotary means in positions which will permit displacement of the locking member from its locking to its unlocking position. These marks, preferably in the form of simple straight lines, are visible only from the front of the latch assembly. In accordance with the present invention, a limiting means is carried by the mounting means and cooperates with the locking member to limit the latter only to movement between its locking and unlocking positions, so that the locking member cannot be removed from the latch assembly and is thus readily available at all times to be displaced between its unlocking and locking position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings which form part of this application and in which:

FIG. I is a fragmentary front elevation of a latch assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the latch assembly of FIG. I; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective illustration of components of the latch assembly of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated at the lower part thereof, in a fragmentary manner, the check rail 10 of the lower sash of a double-hung window. This check rail 10 fixedly carries a mounting means 12 which has a pair of opposed side walls 14 and a top wall 16 extending across and integrally formed with the side walls 14. The latter walls 14 are fixed to the rail 10 by any suitable screws or the like.

The transverse wall 16 has the stepped configuration toward the rear which is apparent from FIG. 2. This stepped configuration provides the mounting means I2 with a shoulder against which a transverse wall 18 is placed in a manner shown in FIG. 2, this transverse wall 18 being formed with the opening 21 extending therethrough as illustrated. The thickest rear part 20 of the wall 16 of the mounting means is formed with a vertically extending bore 22 which has a lower reduced end for receiving the part 24 of smallest diameter of an elongated rotary pin 26 which is fixed at its top end with a finger-piece 28 capable of being engaged by the operator for turning the stem or pin 26. This assembly fixedly carries the rotary hook-shaped member 30 adapted to cooperate with a lock element fixed to the other part of the window such as the other movable sash thereof so that in a known way when the part 30 cooperates with the part carried by the other sash the window will be locked.

The lower end part 24 of the stem 26 extends through and beyound the thickest part 20 to be engaged by a holding element 32 which thus permits the stem 26 and the parts connected therewith to rotate but prevents axial movement thereof. This stem 26 is formed with a horizontal lock bore 34 passing therethrough, and in addition the part 20 of the wall 16 is formed with a front bore 36 aligned with the bore 34 in the position of the part shown in FIG. 2.

In addition, the front region of the walls 14 and 16 of the mounting means 12 are formed with interior vertically and horizontally extending grooves located in a common plane for receiving the side and top edge regions of a retaining plate 38. This retaining plate 38 is formed with a circular opening for receiving the front projecting portion 40 of a rotary means 42 which includes the ring which has the forwardly projecting part 40 which extends through the circular opening of the retaining plate 38. At its rear the rotary means 42 has at its ring 44 a notch 46 for receiving a projection 48 of a second ring 50 of the rotary means 42. This ring 50 does not have a circular opening. Instead it has an opening provided with the straight edge region 52.

The ring 44 together with the ring 50 define between themselves a space for receiving a second rotary means 54 in the form of a ring having a forwardly projecting portion 56 which becomes surrounded by the forwardly projecting portion 40 as is clearly apparent from FIG. 2. This ring 56 also has a straightedge portion 58 which is of the same dimensions as the straight portion 52. Thus the rotary means 54 is assembled with the rotary means 42, and this pair of rotary means is mounted between the wall 18 and the retaining plate 38.

An elongated locking member 60 extends through the central apertures of the pair of rotary means 42 and 54 as well as through the bore 21 formed in the wall 18. This locking member 60 has a rear locking portion 62 of reduced diameter adapted to be received in the locking bore 34 and adapted to pass through the bore 36, as is apparent from FIG. 2. Forwardly of the rear locking portion 62, the locking member 60 has an elongated body portion 64 which is circular in section except for the flat surface 66. This flat surface is adapted to become aligned with the edges 52 and 58. Forwardly of the body 64 the locking member 60 is formed with a circumferential groove 68, and forwardly of the latter the latter the locking member 60 has the front knurled cylindrical portion 70 adapted to be engaged by the operator. It will be noted from FIG. 2 that when the looking member is in the locking position illustrated in FIG. 2, the front end surface 72 is situated rearwardly of and inwardly of the front surface of the mounting means so that it is essential for the operator to be in front of the latch assembly of the invention in order to manipulate the latter.

The retaining plate 38 of the mounting means and the front surfaces of the forwardly projecting parts 40 and 56 of the pair of rotary means all carry straight-line marks 74, respectively. These marks are shown out of alignment with each other in FIG. 1. When all of these marks are placed in a row where they cooperate to form a continuous line, the pair of edges 58 and 52 become oriented in a horizontal plane just over the surface 66 so that the locking member 60 can be displaced to the left, as viewed in FIG. 2, from the illustrated locking position to an unlocking position. However, when the marks 74 are not aligned in this way, and the locking member is in its locking position shown in FIG. 2, the straight edge portions 52 and 58 become situated in the groove 68, so that the locking member cannot be displaced to its unlocking position.

In accordance with the particular feature of the invention the structure includes a limiting means 76 for limiting the movement of the locking member so that it can only be displaced longitudinally between the locking position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2 and an unlocking position where the front end region is shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 2. For this purpose the limiting means 76 includes an elongated limiting pin 78 carried by the mounting means 12 in the manner shown in FIG. 2. Thus the top wall 16 and the wall 18 are respectively formed with aligned bores for receiving the limiting pin 78. The length of the latter is such that it has a lower free end portion extending into the bore 21 which passes through the wall 18. Moreover. the elongated body portion 64 of the locking member 60 is formed with a longitudinally extending groove 80 which receives the lower free end portion of the limiting pin 78. It will be noted that the hook-shaped lock part 30 extends over the top surface of the pin 78. Thus, this pin 78 is first assembled in the condition shown in FIG. 2 and then the stem 26 is placed into the vertical bore 22 so that the part 30 serves the additional function of retaining the limiting pin 78 in the assembled condition shown in FIG. 2. It will be seen that this result is achieved by situating the outer upper end surface of the limiting pin 78 so that it is flush with the exterior surface of the wall 16 of the mounting means, and the lock part 30 overlaps and slidably engages this end surface of pin 78 which is flush with the outer surface of wall 16, so that in this way the part 30 serves its additional retaining function.

The length of the elongated groove 80 is such that when its right rear end, as viewed in FIG. 2, engages the pin 78, the locking end 62 of the locking member 60 is completely out of the bore 34 of the stem 26 so that the latter can be rotated by manipulation of the fingerpiece 28. On the other hand, when the left or front end of the groove engages the bottom free end portion of the pin 78, as shown in FIG. 2, the part 62 is well within the bore 34 so that a secure locking is assured.

Thus, with the above construction of the invention all of the advantages such as operation only by an individual situated in front of the latch assembly are retained, as well as the ruggedness of the construction and the reliability thereof. At the same time, however, it will be seen that the locking member 60 cannot be removed from the assembly so that it is always available to be returned to the locking position shown in FIG. 2.

What is claimed is:

1. In a latch assembly, an elongated locking member longitudinally movable between a locking position and an unlocking position, a pair of rotary means surrounding and freely turnable with respect to said locking member and shaped for retaining the latter in said locking position thereof except when both of said rotary means are simultaneously in given angular positions, respectively, for releasing said locking member for movement to said unlocking position thereof, mounting means mounting said locking member for longitudinal movement between said positions thereof and said pair of rotary means for rotary movement with respect to said locking member, said pair of rotary means and said mounting means all carrying visual indicating means for visually indicating at a front surface of said mounting means and pair of rotary means when said pair of rotary means are in said given angular positions, respectively, limiting means carried by said mounting means and cooperating with said locking member for limiting the latter to movement only between said locking and unlocking positions thereof, so that said locking member cannot be removed from said mounting means, said mounting means having an exterior surface and said limiting means having an end surface flush with said exterior surface of said mounting means, and a movable lock part movably carried by said mounting means and acted upon by said elongated locking member when the latter is in its locking position to be prevented by said locking member from moving with respect to said mounting means, said locking member when in its unlocking position releasing said lock part for movement with respect to said mounting means, and said movable lock part having a portion overlapping and slidably engaging said limiting means at said end surface thereof for preventing removal of said limiting means from said mounting means so that said movable lock part also serves to retain the limiting means in its assembled condition.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said limiting means includes a limiting pin carried by said mounting means, said locking member having a portion formed with an elongated cutout for receiving said limiting pin with said cutout being defined between a pair of opposed ends which respectively engage said pin to limit the movement of said locking member to said locking and unlocking positions thereof.

3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said elongated locking member is formed with an elongated groove while said pin has a free end extending into said groove, the latter groove extending longitudinally of said locking member.

4. The combination of claim 3 and wherein said portion of said locking member which is formed with said groove is of a circular section except at one region where said portion has a flat surface, said pair of rotary means respectively having straight-edge portions extending along and extending parallel to said flat surface when said pair of rotary means are respectively in said given angular positions thereof, and said groove extending into the body of said portion of said locking member from said flat surface thereof.

5. The combination of claim 4 and wherein said pin extends perpendicularly with respect to said flat surface and has a free end portion permanently situated in said groove.

6. The combination of claim 5 and wherein said locking member has a front end region freely accessible to the operator so that the operator can readily displace said locking member between said locking and unlocking positions thereof.

7. The combination of claim 6 and wherein said front end region of said locking member is knurled to facilitate grasping and movement thereof by the operator.

8. The combination of claim 6 and wherein said locking member when in its locking position has a front end surface situated inwardly of a front surface of said mounting means so as to be visible only from the front of the latter. 

1. In a latch assembly, an elongated locking member longitudinally movable between a locking position and an unlocking position, a pair of rotary means surrounding and freely turnable with respect to said locking member and shaped for retaining the latter in said locking position thereof except when both of said rotary means are simultaneously in given angular positions, respectively, for releasing said locking member for movement to said unlocking position thereof, mounting means mounting said locking member for longitudinal movement between said positions thereof and said pair of rotary means for rotary movement with respect to said locking member, said pair of rotary means and said mounting means all carrying visual indicating means for visually indicating at a front surface of said mounting means and pair of rotary means when said pair of rotary means are in said given angular positions, respectively, limiting means carried by said mounting means and cooperating with said locking member for limiting the latter to movement only between said locking and unlocking positions thereof, so that said locking member cannot be removed from said mounting means, said mounting means having an exterior surface and said limiting means having an end surface flush with said exterior surface of said mounting means, and a movable lock part movably carried by said mounting means and acted upon by said elongated locking member when the latter is in its locking position to be prevented by said locking member from moving with respect to said mounting means, said locking member when in its unlocking position releasing said lock part for movement with respect to said mounting means, and said movable lock part having a portion overlapping and slidably engaging said limiting means at said end surface thereof for preventing removal of said limiting means from said mounting means so that said movable lock part also serves to retain the limiting means in its assembled condition.
 2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said limiting means includes a limiting pin carried by said mounting means, said locking member having a portion formed with an elongated cutout for receiving said limiting pin with said cutout being defined between a pair of opposed ends which respectively engage said pin to limit the movement of said locking Member to said locking and unlocking positions thereof.
 3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said elongated locking member is formed with an elongated groove while said pin has a free end extending into said groove, the latter groove extending longitudinally of said locking member.
 4. The combination of claim 3 and wherein said portion of said locking member which is formed with said groove is of a circular section except at one region where said portion has a flat surface, said pair of rotary means respectively having straight-edge portions extending along and extending parallel to said flat surface when said pair of rotary means are respectively in said given angular positions thereof, and said groove extending into the body of said portion of said locking member from said flat surface thereof.
 5. The combination of claim 4 and wherein said pin extends perpendicularly with respect to said flat surface and has a free end portion permanently situated in said groove.
 6. The combination of claim 5 and wherein said locking member has a front end region freely accessible to the operator so that the operator can readily displace said locking member between said locking and unlocking positions thereof.
 7. The combination of claim 6 and wherein said front end region of said locking member is knurled to facilitate grasping and movement thereof by the operator.
 8. The combination of claim 6 and wherein said locking member when in its locking position has a front end surface situated inwardly of a front surface of said mounting means so as to be visible only from the front of the latter. 